CVE-2024-37085
VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.
VMware ESXi contains an authentication bypass vulnerability. A malicious actor with sufficient Active Directory (AD) permissions can gain full access to an ESXi host that was previously configured to use AD for user management https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2012/09/joining-vsphere-hosts-to-active-directory.html by re-creating the configured AD group ('ESXi Admins' by default) after it was deleted from AD.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HActively exploited and used by ransomware crews. Patch immediately.
- Exploitation
- Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
- Federal remediation deadline
- Overdue by 797 days
- Ransomware
- Used in known ransomware campaigns
- CVSS
- 6.8 MEDIUM
- EPSS (30-day exploit probability)
- 26.8% · top 2% of all CVEs
- Weakness
- CWE-287
- Attack vector
- Network, remotely reachable
- 1.Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- 2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
- 3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
- 4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.
- 5.Verify offline/immutable backups and segment the affected systems. This flaw is used for ransomware initial access.
Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.